Secondary Battery Startup Libest Forms Strategic Partnership with U.S. Defense Company

Responsible for the Entire Process from High-Density Battery Development to Pilot and Mass Production
Recognized for Flexible, Flame-Retardant, and Non-Flammable Battery Technology

Various types of next-generation batteries produced by the secondary battery specialized startup Libest. Libest website

Libest, a domestic startup specializing in secondary batteries, led by CEO Kim Juseong, announced on June 13 that it has recently entered into a strategic partnership with a global defense company headquartered in Silicon Valley, United States.

Under this agreement, Libest will develop and conduct pilot production of high-energy-density batteries at its headquarters in Korea and will be responsible for the entire process through to mass production in the future. The U.S. defense company reportedly selected Libest as its global strategic partner to ensure a stable supply of high-specification batteries, for which demand is expected to surge over the coming years.

Libest previously won innovation awards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2020 for its flexible battery technology and in 2023 for its battery technology featuring both flame retardancy and non-flammability. Libest stated, "We have continuously expanded opportunities for collaboration with global clients based on our differentiated electrolyte technology and proprietary battery design capabilities," adding, "This contract is the result of our technological prowess leading to practical supply agreements."

In particular, this supply contract is a recognition of Libest's technology in developing flame-retardant and non-flammable lithium-ion batteries that can operate reliably in extreme cold below minus 40 degrees Celsius as well as in high-temperature environments. The defense, aerospace, and space industries require high reliability even under extreme conditions. Libest plans to supply high-specification batteries that maintain high energy density while operating stably in such harsh environments, based on its existing technology.

Libest emphasized that this project is not a simple original design manufacturing (ODM) or short-term supply contract, but rather a strategic alliance premised on a long-term production and quality cooperation system with the client company. Through this, Libest aims to strengthen its position as a forward base for supplying high-specification batteries to the global defense, aerospace, and mobility industries.

Bae Moonseong, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Libest, stated, "This contract signifies that Libest's technology has earned trust even in real-world military and aviation environments," adding, "As a domestic battery startup, this achievement of entering the U.S. defense market will be an important turning point for the commercialization of our technology and the diversification of technology exports."

Spun off from KAIST in 2016, Libest possesses competitiveness in next-generation technologies such as flexible batteries, flame-retardant and non-flammable batteries, hydride solid electrolytes, and all-solid-state batteries. Recently, the company has diversified its business into custom battery cells, battery power packs, and domestic and international contract manufacturing businesses. As a result, it expanded its sales from 900 million KRW in 2023 to 3.8 billion KRW in 2024.

Currently, Libest is in the process of raising investment for large-scale manufacturing infrastructure. In April, the company secured investment from Daejeon Investment Finance, the first local venture capital (VC) funded by Daejeon Metropolitan City.